When you travel to a sportfishing destination, the last thing you need to worry about is your guide.

At Gasparilla Outfitters™ we like to travel and fish in other places too, so we completely understand your needs.

The guides we work with are independent contractors and simply among the best, most experienced, and dependable fishermen in the area. All of them are true professionals. If you a captain on the list below that you know or that you would like to fish with, please request their service when you call and we will make every effort to “hook” you up.

Melina Chaplin is usually the first smiling face you meet when you stop in Gasparilla Outfitters & Special Effects and the friendly voice you often get on the other end of the phone.

As shop manager, she keeps tabs on all the day to day operations, from stocking the latest resort fashions for women, to booking your guide for the family tarpon fishing trip. She also accompanies Robin on buying trips to the retail markets and art shows, helping to find just the right look or the perfect gift.

Born in Fort Myers, she is a life long Southwest Florida resident and comes from a family with a distinguished history of commercial fishing Boca Grande and Charlotte Harbor. In fact her son, two brothers and several cousins are now among the areas best guides.

She lives just off the island in South Gulf Cove with her husband John and spends her days off entertaining her grandchildren.

Robin Melvin’s love of travel is second only to her love of shopping. Special Effects for Women is the outlet where she gets to show off all the neat and fun home decorative items, gifts, and handcrafted jewelry she finds working with artists from around the country.

When she travels, Africa is a favorite, she likes to wear clothing that is stylish and comfortable, but before an item makes it into her luggage, everything has to be functional too. When you take a leisurely look around Special Effects, you will see a little of Robin’s personality in very corner.

Capt. Mark Becton specializes in fly fishing the backcountry for Snook, Redfish and Speckled Trout. During Tarpon season he likes to sight fish for them in the Harbor and along the beaches with both flies and live bait out of his custom built flats skiff.

Capt. Dave Chatham was born and raised in the surrounding waters of Boca Grande. He specializes in live bait backcountry fishing for Snook, Redfish and Speckled trout. He also live bait Tarpon fishes the Pass in season and along the beaches and in the Harbor.

Capt. Frank Davis was born in Florida and grew up fishing the waters surrounding Boca Grande. He specializes in Pass Tarpon fishing aboard his custom 24′ Morgan “Native” from May through August. The remainder of the year he targets snook, redfish and Speckled Trout in the backcountry in his 21′ Lake & Bay flats skiff. He is experienced in both live bait and fly fishing.

Capt. Mark Liberman specializes in live bait Pass Tarpon fishing out of his custom built 26′ Storter “Phil-Jack”. He also fishes with live bait and flies in the backcountry for Snook, Redfish, Speckled Trout and Tarpon from his 21′ Yellowfin flats boat.

Capt. Tommy Locke is a long time Boca Grande guide who specializes as a teaching guide in the ultimate challenge of catching tarpon on fly. He also fishes fly & light tackle year-round in the back country for Snook, Redfish, and Trout. His boat is a shallow-draft East Cape Evo.

Capt. Waylon Mills is a 4th generation local fisherman that specializes in traditional live bait Pass Tarpon fishing in season from his custom built 24′ Morgan, “Blaze”. He is a multiple time tarpon tournament winner.

He also likes to fish the nearshore wrecks and hard bottom areas for Permit, King Mackeral, Cobia and Spanish Mackeral out of his 24′ Morgan set up for offshore fishing, “Cracker”.

Capt. Willie Mills is a 4th generation Florida fisherman with vast experience in the waters surrounding Boca Grande as a commercial fisherman. Like many local guides, he is usually found in the Pass Tarpon fishing during season from his 24′ Morgan “Tracy Lynn” and is a multiple time tarpon tournament winning captain.

The remainder of the year he generally chases snapper, cobia, king mackerel, bonita, etc… from a 31′ Morgan set up for the offshore stuff.

Capt. Lew Morgan specializes in fly fishing for Tarpon during season along the beaches, the passes, and in the Harbor. The remainder of the year he likes to live bait and fly fish for snook, redfish, and Speckled Trout in the backcountry.

Capt. Eddie Potter specializes in backcountry live bait and fly fishing for Snook, Redfish and Speckled Trout. He also likes to target the nearshore Gulf opportunities for King Mackerel, Spanish Mackerel, Permit and Cobia when the weather and seasons allow. During Tarpon season he chases them along the beaches and in the Harbor with both live bait and flies.

His boats are a 22′ Pathfinder bay boat, and a 20′ Shallow Sport for the skinny stuff.

Capt. Tater Spinks specializes in traditional Boca Grande Pass Tarpon fishing during season and offshore fishing in the Gulf of Mexico year ’round. In the Gulf, he likes to bottom fish for grouper and snapper, and also to troll for big King Mackerel, Spanish Mackerel, Bonito and Barracuda. His boat is a comfortable 34′ Bruno Stillman , “Anjeo”.

Capt. Doug Stewart specializes in live bait backcountry and flyfishing for Snook, Redfish, Speckled Trout and Tarpon fishing along the beaches and in the Harbor during season. He is great with kids and also likes to do shelling and Cabbage Key trips.

His boats are a 17′ Maverick Mirage skiff and a fast and comfortable 24′ Pathfinder bay boat.

We work closely with the local fishing guide community to best serve the interest of our clients. Some have large offshore boats, some have small skiffs. Some specialize in fly fishing, while others prefer to use live bait or artificial baits.

Whatever your preference, from a relaxing day entertaining the kids, to stalking a line class world record, give us a call. All you need to do is communicate what type of trip you would like to do and we will do the rest. We will match you with the best and experienced local guide that will suit your needs.